Cathay
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| Grand Cathay | |
|---|---|
 The Middle Kingdom, where dragons rule and harmony is enforced by fire |
|
| Founding | |
| Founded | Before time was counted |
| Founder | The Celestial Dragon Emperor and Moon Empress |
| Current Leader | The Celestial Dragon Emperor (eternal) |
| Geography | |
| Capital | Wei-Jin, the Dragon Capital |
| Major Cities | Shang-Yang, Fu-Chow, Nan-Gau, the Great Bastion |
| Regions | Eastern Cathay, Northern Provinces, the Great Bastion |
| Biology | |
| Lifespan | 50-70 years for mortals; the Dragon siblings are immortal |
| Height | 160-185 cm (5′3″ - 6′1″) |
| Culture | |
| Language | Cathayan (ancient, melodic) |
| Religion | Veneration of the Dragon Emperor, the Moon Empress, and the balance of Yin and Yang |
| Government | |
| Government | Divine imperial bureaucracy ruled by immortal dragons in human guise |
| Relations | |
| Allies | High Elves (distant respect), some Jade-Blooded ogre tribes |
| Enemies | Chaos (eternal foe), Skaven, Ogres |
Grand Cathay is the oldest and greatest empire the world has ever known. While the Old World was still painting itself blue and throwing rocks, Cathay built floating cities, tamed rivers with geomancy, and set immortal dragons to rule over men. Its armies march behind walls of living jade and terracotta giants. Its astromancers read the future in the stars. Its alchemists brew gunpowder strong enough to crack mountains. And behind every silk curtain, every golden mask, a dragon watches with ancient, unblinking eyes.
Overview
If you want to play someone who genuinely believes their culture is the pinnacle of creation and has the magic, monsters, and artillery to back it up, welcome home.
Appearance
East-Asian features, straight black hair, skin from pale ivory to warm bronze. Clothing is art: silk robes heavy with dragon motifs, jade armour that looks grown rather than forged, conical helmets that hide every expression. Even common soldiers wear lacquered lamellar that costs more than a Reiklander knight’s ransom.
Culture & Society
- Regions: The blessed heartlands of Cathay and the endless Great Bastion.
- Culture: Harmony above all. Order above chaos. Cathay above everything else.
- Names: Miao Ying, Zhao Ming, Li Dao, Yuan Bo, Shen-Zoo, Yin-Yin.
- Religion: The Dragon Emperor is divine. Questioning this is… discouraged.
Morality, Slavery, and Corruption
- Slavery: Forbidden by Imperial law, though indentured servitude and harsh labor contracts exist in remote provinces. True slavery is rare and harshly punished, but corruption among local officials sometimes creates informal exploitation.
- Non-consent sexual relationships: Strongly condemned. Cathayan law and social etiquette place great emphasis on honor, harmony, and family reputation; offenders face severe legal and social consequences.
- Vulnerability to Chaos corruption: Low. The Celestial Order, strict bureaucracy, and powerful dragon-blooded rulers provide strong resistance. However, individuals on the borders or among sorcerers may still fall to Tzeentch or Slaanesh.
Strengths & Weaknesses
- Strengths: Disciplined, educated, and deeply rooted in tradition; skilled in strategy, philosophy, and martial arts; enjoys the stability and protection of a powerful empire.
- Weaknesses: Rigid social roles, burdened by bureaucracy, slow to embrace change, and often pressured by high expectations of honor and duty.
Combat
Adventurers born of this race naturally align with the following subclasses, which they may choose during character creation.
| Compatible Classes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard | Skirmisher | Caster | Sage | ||||
| Bastion | Berserker | Ranger | Assassin | Pyromancer | Cryomancer | Healer | Necromancer |
| Gunpowder Proficient: Members of this race can use of gunpowder-powered weapons. | |||||||
Playing a Cathayan
You are not a hero. You are a single thread in the grand tapestry of harmony. Speak calmly, move deliberately, and never show unseemly emotion in front of lesser beings. A Jade Warrior stands in perfect silence until the enemy is in range, then unleashes hell with mechanical precision. An Astromancer consults the heavens before every battle and sighs at how predictable barbarian tactics are. An Alchemist smiles politely while mixing something that will delete half a province.
You view the Old World the way a scholar views ants: interesting, occasionally useful, mostly beneath notice.
Physical Appearance
Grace incarnate. Robes flow like water, armour gleams like jade under moonlight. Helmets and masks turn every soldier into an expressionless icon of the empire. Terracotta Sentinels tower twenty feet high, faces frozen in eternal judgement. When a Dragon sibling walks among mortals in human form, the air itself seems to bow.
Relations with Other Races
| Category | Faction | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| Humans | Empire | Friendly |
| Bretonnia | Neutral | |
| Kislev | Neutral | |
| Sartosa | Neutral | |
| Araby | Neutral | |
| Norsca | Hostile | |
| Elves | Asur (High Elves) | Friendly |
| Asrai (Wood Elves) | Neutral | |
| Druchii (Dark Elves) | Hostile | |
| Dwarfs | Dwarfs | Friendly |
| Chaos Dwarfs | Hostile | |
| Greenskins | Orcs | Hostile |
| Goblins | Hostile | |
| Monstrous | Ogre | Neutral |
| Beastmen | Hostile | |
| Affliction | Chaos | Hostile |
| Vampire | Neutral |
Gender Roles and Sexuality
Gender Roles
Cathay is a highly structured society mostly inspired by East Asian cultures in which both men and women hold roles of great power, be it political, bureaucratic or military. Men, however, still have several advantages ahead of women, such as overall representation in numbers in offices of power.
- Royalty and Nobility: The Emperor holds ultimate authority, only below him are his children. Noblemen & women exert influence through family connections; such as arranging marriages, managing estates & guiding heirs. Whilst some political power can he held, in the end, the true power lies within the hands of the Dragons.
- Commoners: Women primarily manage the households and care for the children, however they are also expected to provide for their homes through hard labour or trade. Even in times of great need, both Men and Women are summoned to protect their home as Peasant levies.
- Traditional Gender Roles: Unlike the rest of the Old World, both genders have strict expectations when it comes to leadership and domestic responsibility. In the end, all are expected to protect and serve the realm of Cathay
Sexuality
- Sexuality in Cathay is highly regulated and socially conservative, guided by Confucian-like values and imperial law. Heterosexual marriage is the norm, primarily arranged for family or political benefit.
- Taboos: Adultery, sodomy, and overt sexual expression outside marriage are strictly condemned. Female chastity and propriety are heavily emphasized, particularly among the upper classes.
- Elite Practices: Polygamy exists among the imperial family or wealthy nobles, but relationships outside sanctioned structures are dangerous and socially unacceptable.
- Private Life: While erotic literature exists, it is usually discreet, focusing on idealized romance, loyalty, or exoticized foreigners rather than explicit sexual transgression.
Attitudes toward Other Races (Sexualized)
- Cathay is generally isolationist and cautious toward outsiders, but sexualized perceptions of other races exist in private fantasy or literature:
- Elves: Elves, especially High Elves, are considered graceful, beautiful, and otherworldly. Female elves may be eroticized in elite or literary contexts, while male elves are admired for elegance, magic, and skill.
- Dwarfs: Dwarfs are respected for craftsmanship and martial ability; female dwarfs may appear in private fantasies, though sexualized depictions are rare.
- Greenskins: Orcs and goblins are primarily feared as threats; sexualized depictions are almost nonexistent, except in extreme or humorous folklore.
- Humans from Other Lands: Foreign merchants, travelers, or nobles may be eroticized in poetry, art, or private tales, often highlighting exotic appearance, danger, or mystery.
Notable Cultural Nuances
- Cathay emphasizes social order, family honor, and sexual propriety, making erotic expression heavily regulated and largely private.
- Sexualized fascination with other races exists mainly in elite literary, artistic, or fantastical contexts, rather than common culture.
- Gender roles are rigid, with men dominating public and political life, and women exercising influence subtly through family and social networks.
- Erotic fantasy often intertwines exoticism, sophistication, and danger, reflecting Cathay’s cultural and isolationist values.
Notable Ranks & Careers
Conscript → Jade Warrior → Celestial Dragon Guard → Iron Hail Gunner → Astromancer Peasant → Alchemist → Master of the Nine Flames Gate Keeper → Shugengan Lord → Dragon-blooded child (only five exist, good luck)